Teacher admits accepting illegal rebate over purchase of violin
2016-6-20
A teacher of a music company, charged by the ICAC, today (Monday) admitted at the Tsuen Wan Magistracy that she had accepted an illegal rebate of over $1,600 for referring a student to buy a violin from a supplier of musical instruments.
Tse On-kei, 30, a teacher of Tom Lee Music Foundation Limited (TLMF), pleaded guilty to one count of agent accepting an advantage, contrary to Section 9(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance (POBO).
Magistrate Mr Kenneth Chan Ping-chau adjourned the case to July 8 this year for sentence, pending a community service order report. Tse was granted cash bail of $5,000.
The court heard that at the material time, Tse was employed by TLMF as a teacher in violin courses.
Apart from teaching music courses, teachers of TLMF were required to work as consultants to promote, market and sell to their students musical instruments and related products of Tom Lee Music Co. Ltd, an affiliated company of TLMF.
Teachers were not allowed to promote or sell musical instruments to students of TLMF and their parents for other suppliers. Chairman Instruments Trading Limited (CITL) was a supplier of musical instruments in Hong Kong.
Upon a student’s enquiry on where she could purchase a violin, Tse introduced CITL to the student by showing its homepage on a tablet computer. Tse added that the student could enjoy a discount by telling CITL that she was referred by Tse.
On November 2, 2013, the student visited the office of CITL and chose a violin with accessories at about $4,000. After confirming with an assistant sales manager of CITL that she was referred by Tse, the student obtained a discount price at $3,853.
Tse had never told the student that she would receive a rebate out of her purchase, the court was told.
On December 13, 2013, Tse received $1,637 from CITL by cheque deposited in her bank account as a reward for referring the student to CITL to purchase the violin with accessories, the court was told.
Co-defendant Lai Kam-kit, 37, a former teacher of TLMF, who was also charged by the ICAC, pleaded guilty to one count of agent accepting an advantage, contrary to Section 9(1)(a) of the POBO. He was ordered to perform 240 hours of community service and pay $7,663 in restitution to TLMF on April 28 this year.
TLMF had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation.
The prosecution was today represented by prosecuting counsel Flora Cheng, assisted by ICAC officer Alex Ho.
Tse On-kei, 30, a teacher of Tom Lee Music Foundation Limited (TLMF), pleaded guilty to one count of agent accepting an advantage, contrary to Section 9(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance (POBO).
Magistrate Mr Kenneth Chan Ping-chau adjourned the case to July 8 this year for sentence, pending a community service order report. Tse was granted cash bail of $5,000.
The court heard that at the material time, Tse was employed by TLMF as a teacher in violin courses.
Apart from teaching music courses, teachers of TLMF were required to work as consultants to promote, market and sell to their students musical instruments and related products of Tom Lee Music Co. Ltd, an affiliated company of TLMF.
Teachers were not allowed to promote or sell musical instruments to students of TLMF and their parents for other suppliers. Chairman Instruments Trading Limited (CITL) was a supplier of musical instruments in Hong Kong.
Upon a student’s enquiry on where she could purchase a violin, Tse introduced CITL to the student by showing its homepage on a tablet computer. Tse added that the student could enjoy a discount by telling CITL that she was referred by Tse.
On November 2, 2013, the student visited the office of CITL and chose a violin with accessories at about $4,000. After confirming with an assistant sales manager of CITL that she was referred by Tse, the student obtained a discount price at $3,853.
Tse had never told the student that she would receive a rebate out of her purchase, the court was told.
On December 13, 2013, Tse received $1,637 from CITL by cheque deposited in her bank account as a reward for referring the student to CITL to purchase the violin with accessories, the court was told.
Co-defendant Lai Kam-kit, 37, a former teacher of TLMF, who was also charged by the ICAC, pleaded guilty to one count of agent accepting an advantage, contrary to Section 9(1)(a) of the POBO. He was ordered to perform 240 hours of community service and pay $7,663 in restitution to TLMF on April 28 this year.
TLMF had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation.
The prosecution was today represented by prosecuting counsel Flora Cheng, assisted by ICAC officer Alex Ho.